License plate carrier for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle includes a tire mounting member having a bracket fixedly attached to a rear surface of the motor vehicle. The system further includes a license plate carrier pivotally connected to the bracket for rotation about a pivot axis. The license plate carrier includes a display portion oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced from the rear surface of the motor vehicle. A plurality of threaded shafts rearwardly extend from the tire mounting member for mounting the spare tire thereto. The license plate carrier includes a boss portion for receiving one of the threaded shafts to thereby selectively prevents rotation of the license plate carrier about the pivot axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle having a spare tire mounted to a rear panel through a plurality of threaded shafts, the apparatus comprising: a mounting portion adapted to be pivotally interconnected to the motor vehicle for rotation about a pivot axis to selectively provide access to the spare tire; and   a display portion carried by said mounting portion, said display portion adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced apart from a rear surface of the motor vehicle such that the spare tire is mounted to the motor vehicle interbetween the rear surface and said display portion, said display portion including means for preventing rotation about said pivot axis, said means for preventing rotation comprising means for receiving at least one of the plurality of threaded shafts.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes first and second vertically spaced about arms, each arm having a distal end for pivotal interconnection to the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said display portion is generally circular and has a diameter substantially equal to the spare tire. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for receiving at least one of the plurality of threaded shafts comprises a rearwardly extending boss portion and a lug nut. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein said display portion includes a central mounting area for receiving the license plate and said display portion includes a rearwardly extending flange disposed superadjacent said central mounting area, and further wherein said apparatus includes a light source carried within said rearwardly extending flange for illuminating the license plate. 
     
     
       6. A system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle, the system comprising: a tire mounting member including a bracket adapted to be fixedly attached to a rear surface of the motor vehicle;   a plurality of threaded shafts rearwardly extending from said bracket;   a license plate carrier pivotally connected to said bracket for rotation about a pivot axis, said license plate carrier including a display portion adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced from the rear surface of the motor vehicle; and   a boss portion rearwardly extending from said display portion, said boss portion receiving one of said plurality of threaded shafts for securing said display portion to said bracket so as to prevent rotation of said license plate carrier about said pivot axis.   
     
     
       7. The system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein said license plate carrier includes a mounting portion having first and second vertically spaced about arms. 
     
     
       8. The system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a pivot pin passing through a vertical aperture provided in said tire mounting member and further passing through said first and second vertically spaced apart arms, said pivot pin defining said pivot axis. 
     
     
       9. The system for mounting a spare tire and a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 6, wherein said display portion includes a central mounting area for receiving the license plate and said display portion includes a rearwardly extending flange disposed superadjacent said central mounting area, and further wherein said apparatus includes a light source carried within said rearwardly extending flange for illuminating the license plate. 
     
     
       10. A motor vehicle comprising: a rear liftgate;   a tire mounting member including a bracket, said bracket fixedly attached to said liftgate;   a plurality of threaded shafts rearwardly extending from said tire mounting member;   a spare tire mounted to said tire mounting member by said threaded shafts;   a license plate carrier removably secured to one of said threaded shafts, said license plate carrier including a display portion oriented in a vertical plane and horizontally spaced from said liftgate, said license plate carrier including a boss portion for receiving the at least one of the plurality of threaded shafts; and   a license plate attached to said display portion.   
     
     
       11. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein said license plate carrier is pivotally attached to said tire mounting member. 
     
     
       12. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein said license plate carrier includes a mounting portion having first and second vertically spaced about arms. 
     
     
       13. The motor vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a pivot pin passing through a vertical aperture provided in said tire mounting member and further passing through said first and second vertically spaced apart arms, said pivot pin defining said pivot axis. 
     
     
       14. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein said display portion includes a central mounting area for receiving the license plate and said display portion includes a rearwardly extending flange disposed superadjacent said central mounting area, and further wherein said apparatus includes a light source carried within said rearwardly extending flange for illuminating the license plate. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle having a spare tire mounted to a rear panel, the apparatus comprising: a first member adapted to be fixedly mounted to the rear panel for supporting the spare tire, said first member including a shaft; and   a second member including a mounting portion and a rigid display portion;   said mounting portion pivotally attached to said first member for rotation about a pivot axis, said display portion being generally circular and having diameter substantially equal to the spare tire;   said display portion adapted to be oriented in a substantially vertical plane and spaced apart from a rear surface of the motor vehicle such that the spare tire is mounted to the motor vehicle interbetween the rear panel and said display portions;   a boss portion rearwardly extending from said displaying portion, said boss portion receiving said shaft so as to prevent rotation of said display portion about said pivot axis.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein said mounting portion includes first and second vertically spaced about arms, each arm having an end for pivotal interconnection to the motor vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus for mounting a license plate to a motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein said display portion includes a central mounting area for receiving the license plate and said display portion includes a rearwardly extending flange disposed superadjacent said central mounting area, and further wherein said apparatus includes a light source carried within said rearwardly extending flange for illuminating the license plate.